Railway crossing



J. H. ASSELIN RAILWAY CROSSING Filed Aug 1 36 4 Sheets-Sh 1 M km Oct. 4, 1938. J. H. ASSELIN RAILWAY CROSSING Filed Aug. 10, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 AN u M w WII/V James ./1 [256%70,

Oct. 4, 1938. J. H. ASS ELIN RAILWAY CRO'SSING Filed Aug. 10, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 :EHF L Get. 4, 1938. J. H. ASSELIN 2,132,008

RAILWAY CROSS ING Filed Aug. 10, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAHJWAY CROSSING 11 Claims.

This invention has to do with railway crossthe employment of insulation between the parts.

ings, whether steam or electric, combining features of both built-up type and the rigid type,

the latter as exemplified, for instance, in my Patent No. 1,773,251 dated August 19, 1930.

The principal objects of the present invention are the improvement and simplification of such rail crossing structures whether track intersections, tum cuts or cross-over frogs, including easy replacement of worn or fractured elements, the secure interlocking of the component parts, the

maintaining of track gauge and alignment of crossing angle, the interchangeability therein of cast manganese steel, cast alloy steel, rolled alloy steel or rolled steel rail elements, the provision of elasticity and sound-deadening, insulated rails, and other features of advantage'which will be apparent to construction engineers, track foremen and others skilled in railroad track construction and maintenance.

To facilitate a complete understanding of the invention from which a conception of its manifold advantages may be attained, a preferred embodiment of the same is herein-set forth by way of description predicated upon the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a railway crossing embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan of the cast base upon which the rails are supported and fastened;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the four intersections of the crossing with the flange-guiding elements shown as disassociated from the assembly at Figs. 4a and 4b and in end elevation at Fig. 4c and the inner guard walls atFig. 4d;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly in section look- 40 ing in the direction indicated by the lines 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but looking in the opposite direction as indicated by the lines 66 of Fig. 4; r

Fig. '7 is a modification of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a further modification of Figs. 2 and 7, showing the substitution for the rolled steel rail and inner wall and guard of a hollow cast steel rail embodying in itself the retaining wallan'd 50 guard;

Fig. 9 is a modification of Fig. 2 including a supporting insert;

Fig. 10 is a further modification of Fig. 2 wherein a lug carried by the outer frame wall is em- 55 played as a hold-down device for the rail;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to'Flg. 2 showing an elastic seat for the rail. with sound-deadening and insulating material between the rail head and frame together with a fiber clamp; and

to Fig. i2isaviewsimilarto Fig. 2 also showing Having particular reference to the drawings, there is represented in Fig. 1 a cast base frame for employment where the rails cross obliquely, it being understood that the same description would apply where the track intersections areat right angles or at any appropriate more or less oblique angle. The integral quadrilateral frame comprises base elements 2i of substantial width for resting upon the. road bed or cross ties. This frame hasupstanding therefrom in fixed relation and preferably integral therewith outer walls 22, which base 2| and walls 22 extend at 2la and 22a beyond their points of intersection, the wall extensions 22a being substantially coextensive with the baseextensions 2Ia but locally interrupted at the intersection to provide gaps at 221) of width equal to that of a rail head plus a wheel flange groove. 4

The upper face of the frame base itself or the upper face of the pads 23 and 23a seated directly upon the base itself or in recesses 24 in the upper face of theframe base may be canted inwardly as shown in Fig. 6 to correspond to normal canting of the rail in the track. Within the areaof pads 23 and 23a heavier rubber pads 23b may be provided which may be similarly seated and confined within recesses 24, the bottom of which recesses may be level or canted as shown in Fig. 11.

All of the frame elements hereinbefore referred to and illustrated in Fig. 3 are fixed in their relation to each other and the metallic portions are preferably cast or welded integral.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 4 which show the crossing completely assembled, it will be seen that the outer rails 25, with which the outer rails 26 connect, have their ends disposed within the gaps 22b, with the side of the ball or rail heads bearing against the inturned edge 220 of the walls 22 and with the end of said rails 25 abutting the terminal side face of the rails 26. c

Inside the frame and resting upon the base are short inner rail lengths 25a and 26a which form continuations of the outer rails 25 and 26 respectively. The heads of these inner rails likewise bear against the inturned edges 220 of the outer fixed walls 22 and terminate short of the outer rails bya d'stance corresponding to the wheel flange groove as indicated at 25b and, 26b.

The bases of the outer rails and inner rails" bear against the outer wall and the rail webs are bolted to th inner face of said walls at strategic prints. The inner walls or guards 21 are removably secured as by bolts 28 to the base 2| and by other bolts 35 through the innerrails 25a and 26a'to the fixed integral" outer walls 22, whereby to clamp the inner rails to the frame base and against the said outer fixed walls. These inner walls 21 serve as guards, having, an upper face 60 providing a flange groove 21a and a flange guard 21b and also an upright portion 21c preferably beveled at 21d to rest beneath the rail head and upon the rail base respectively with the intermediate upright portion slightly spaced from the I rail web as at Tie.

One or more of the inner walls or guards is severed intermediate its length as indicated at 30 and preferabIy along an oblique line to facilitate 10 1 bolts 28a. These flange-guiding elements present on their upper faces a flange groove am of taper width and a guard '3") with an upright portion 31c beveled above and below at Sid and spaced at 3le from the rail web as in the case of the inner walls 21 while their inner ends iii are of flange groove width and of a height level with the bottom of the flange groove and are inserted within the gaps 22b in the outer walls 22 and between the ends of the intersecting "outer rails and inner rails to complementarily abut the oblique ends of the inner walls or guards at 29b, thus serving to space and interlock the outer and inner rails with eachother and with theouter and inner. walls and with the frame base, as well as to underlie and support the inner and outer rails.

The fixed outer walls 22 may be outwardly buttressed at 32, the removable inner walls or guards 21'inwardly at 33 and the flange guides inwardly at 34 to provide stability and strain resistance.

When the outer rails and 26 and the inner rails 25a and 26a are clamped between the outer fixed walls 22 and the inner removable walls or V guards 21 by means of the bolts 35, which bolts also clamp the flange guides 3| and the outer rails 25 and 26 to the outer walls 22, there obtains a flrin interlocked assembly of the parts which is proof against accidental disassociation. It will also be clear that upon the loosening and removaloi. appropriate bolts 28a and 35a the outer rails 25 and 26 may be replaced after removing the flange guides 3|. Likewise the inner crossing rails 25a and 26a may be replaced in case of damage or failure by the release of the proper bolts 28 and 35 and the removal of the inner wall or guard elements 21 by which they are held in clamped relation against the outer walls 22.

Referring to Fig. 7 it will be observed that the rails, of which one is shown at 26a, are held firmly to the base-2| by an inside clamp 38 and by an outside clamp 31, the latter extending through Y the outer wall 22 with their beveled'inner ends 360 and 3.1a taking overlthe edges of the rail ,base and firmly clamped thereon by means of the bolts 28.

These, clamps may be of steel, fiber or hard rubber.

In Fig. 8 but one such hold-down clamp 36 is lemployed bearing upon the inner edge of the rail In Figs. 2, 6, '7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 the outside edge of the rail base bears against a lug 38 formed upon the outer wall 22 while the rail base rests upon a resilient pad 23a of rubber or the like seated 'within the recess 24 in the frame base 2| to prevent undue spreading under load.

In Fig. 11 the heavier pad 23b underlies the rail base within the confining recess 24 in the frame base 2|, which pad may have an insulating lip 23c disposed between the edge of the rail base and the wall 22, this pad elastically supporting the rail 26a under load, the pad being prevented from undue spreading by the walls of the recess. Similarly, in Fig. 11 there is shown a rubber or flber insert 39 disposed between the rail head and the inwardly extending edge 220 of the outer wall for purposes of insulation, sound-deadening and elastie support.

In Fig. 12 an insulating fabric 40 envelops the rail base and, with other sheets of fabric 40a and 40b, together serve to insulate the rail from both the outer wall and inner wall, fromthe frame base and the hold-down clamp and bolts, thus insuring against shorts in the electric operation of train signals.

In Fig. 9 the proper positioning of the rail to the frame base and outer wall is assured by the employment of an insert 42, the lower edge of which has a bearing upon the rail base at 42a, a lateral oblique bearing against the lug 43 and bears upwardly upon both the wall extension 220.

and the rail head 26a, bridging the space therebetween and maintaining the two in horizontal alignment; the insert being held in place by bolt 35.

In Fig. 10 the outer wall 22 is shown as provided intersection only of the quadrilateral crossing as heretofore described and as illustrated particularly in Fig. 1 will be obvious by reference to Fig. 4.

It will be understood the frame base would extend beyond one rail intersection only, and another independent base with its associated elements would be provided at the intersection of the companion rails.

It will be noted the upper face of the outer walls 22 and 22a are flush with the upper'faces of has a complete substantially increased bearing support at the crossing as compared with that aflorded by the rafl head alone beyond the cross- I claimz l. A railway crossing comprising a one-piece base frame with the sides extending beyond their points of intersection, the frame bounded by an upstanding flxed wall substantially coextensive with. the base but locally interrupted at the intersection to provide gaps of width equal to. that of a rail head plus a wheelflange groove, outer rails at the crossing having. their ends disposed within the gaps with the rail base bearing against and the rail web tied to the inner face of the upstanding wall, short rails disposed within the frame with their ends spaced from the outer rail ends a distance equal to a wheel-flange groove, inner walls removably secured to the base and the inner rails and the outer walls, the meeting ends of the inner walls abutting and one or more of them severed intermediate its lengthto facilitate and inner wall ends serving to space and interlock the outer and inner rails with each other and with the base frame. a

2. A railway crossing comprising a polygonal integral base frame with the sides extending beyond their points of intersection, the frame bounded along its outer sides by an upstanding fixed integral wall substantially coextensive with the base but locally interrupted at the intersection to provide gaps of width equal to that of a rail head plus a wheel-flange groove, outer rails at the crossing having their ends disposed within said gaps with the rail base bearing against and the rail web tied to the inner face of the upstandingwall,inner rails disposed within the frame with their ends spaced from the outer rail ends a distance equal to a wheel-flange groove, inner walls removably secured to the base and clamping the inner rails to the outer walls and having an upper face providing a wheel flange groove and guard, one or more of the inner walls severed intermediate its length to facilitate disassembly of the inner walls to release the inner rails, and flange guides removably secured to the inner sides of the outer rails and frame with their inner ends of flange-groove width and height level with the groove bottom inserted within the gaps in the outer walls and between the ends ofthe intersecting outer and inner rails, said flange guides and inner walls abutting and serving to space and interlock the outer and inner rails with each other and with the base frame. I

3. A railway crossing comprising a. one-piece base frame with the sides extending beyond their points of intersection, the frame bounded by upstanding fixed walls substantially coextensive with the base but locally interrupted at the intersection to provide gaps of width equal to that of a rail head plus a wheel-flange groove, outer rails having their ends disposed within said gaps with the rail base bearing against and the rail web tied to the upstanding wall, inner rails disposed within the frame with their ends spaced from the outerrail ends a distance equal to a wheel-flange groove, inner walls removably secured to the base and the inner rails and the outer walls and having an upper face providing a wheel-flange groove and guard, the meeting ends of the inner walls abutting in a miter joint, one or more of them severed intermediate its length along an oblique line to facilitate disassembly of the inner walls to release the inner rails, and wheel-flange guides removably secured to the inside of the outer rails and frame with their ends of flange-groove width and height level with the groove bottom inserted within the gaps in the outer walls and between the ends of the intersecting outer and inner rails,

- stantially coextensive with the base but locally interrupted at the intersection to provide gaps of width equal to that of a rail head plus a wheelflange groove, outer rails at the crossing having their ends disposedwithin said gaps with the rail base bearing against and the rail web tied to the inside face of the upstanding wall, inner rails disposed within the frame with their ends spaced from the outer rail. ends a distance equal to a wheel-flange groove, inner walls removably secured to the base and through the inner rails to the outer walls and having an upper face providing a wheel-flange groove and guard, the meeting ends of the inner walls abutting and one or more of them severed intermediate its length along an oblique line to facilitate disassembly of the inner walls to release the inner rails, and

wheel-flange guides removably secured inside the outer rails and frame with their ends inserted within the gaps in the outer walls and between the ends of the intersecting outer and inner rails, said flange guide ends abutting the inner wall ends and together serving to space and interlock the outer and inner rails with each other and with the outer walls and the base frame.

5. A railway crossing comprising a base frame with the sides extending beyond their points of intersection, the frame bounded by upstanding frame with their ends spaced from the outer rail ends a distance equal to a wheel-flange groove, inner walls removably secured to the base and through the inner rails to the outer walls and having an upper face providing a wheelflange groove and guard, the meeting ends of the inner walls abutting in a miter joint, one or more of them severed intermediate its length along an oblique line to facilitate disassembly of the inner walls to release the inner rails, and flange guides removably secured to theframe inside the outer rails with their ends of flange-groove width and height level with the groove bottom inserted with in the gaps in the-outer walls and between the ends of the intersecting outer and inner rails,

6. A railway crossing comprising an-integral base with the sides extending beyond their point of intersection, the base bounded by upstanding fixed walls substantially coextensive with the base but locally interrupted at their intersection to provide gaps of width equal to that of a rail head plus a wheel-flange groove, outer rails having their ends disposed within said gaps with the rail base bearing against and the rail web tied to the inside face of the upstanding walls, rails disposed within the frame with their ends spaced from the outer rail ends a distance equal to a wheel-flange groove,inner walls removably secured to the base and through the inner rails to the outer walls, the meeting ends of the innerwalls abutting and one or more of them severed intermediate its length to facilitate disassembly of the inner walls to release the inner rails, and flange guides removably secured to the inside of the outer rails and frame with their ends inserted within the gaps in the outer walls and lie-- tween the ends of the intersecting outer and inner rails to an abutment with the ends of the inner walls, said flange. guides and inner walls serving to space and interlock the outer and m ner rails with each other and with the base frame, and cushion inlays in upper recesses of the frame base beneath the rails adjacent their points of intersection.

7. A railway crossing comprising a frame onepiece base with the sides extending beyondtheir points of intersection; the base bounded by upstanding flxed walls integral therewith substantially coextensive with the base but locally interrupted at their intersection to provide gaps of width equal to that of a.v rail head plus a wheelfiange groove, outer rails at the crossing having their ends disposed within the gaps with the rail base and head bearing against and the rail web tied to the inside face of the upstanding wall, inner rails disposed within the frame with their ends spaced from the outer rail ends a distance equal to a wheel-flange groove, inner walls removably secured to the base and through the inner rails to the outer "walls and having an upper face providing a wheel-flange groove and guard, the meeting ends of the inner walls abutrtingin a miter joint and terminally cut away at an obtuse angle, one or more of them severed intermediate its length along an oblique line to facilitate disassembly of the inner walls to. release the inner rails, wheel-flange guides removably secured to the inside of the outer rails and frame with their ends of flange-groove width and height level with the groove bottom inserted within the gaps in the outer walls and between the ends of the intersecting outer and inner rails vand terminally cut at an angle complementary to that of the inner wall ends, said flange guides and inner wall ends serving to space and interlock the outer and inner rails with each other and with the fixed walls and frame base, and cushion rubber inlays in upper recesses of the frame base beneath both the outer and inner rails adjacent their points of intersection and beneath the inner rails intermediate their length.

8. A railway crossing comprising a polygonal integral base with the sides extending beyond their point of intersection, the base bounded along its outer sides by upstanding fixed integral walls substantially coextensive with the base but locally interrupted at their intersection to provide gaps of width equal to that of a rail head plus a wheel-flange groove, outer rails at the crossing having their ends disposed within the gaps with their bases and heads bearing against and their webs tied to the inside face of the upstanding walls, inner rails disposed within the frame with their ends spaced from the outer rail ends a disintersecting outer and inner rails and abutting the ends of the inner walls, the ends of said flange guides and inner walls serving to space and interlock the outer and inner rails with each other and with the frame base, and electric insulating composition between the rails and the frame base and walls.

Q 9. A railway crossing comprising a quadrilatbounded by upstanding fixed walls substantially coextensive with the base butlocally interrupted at their intersection to provide gaps of width 2,1sa,oos

equal to. that of a rail head plus a wheel-flange groove and adapted to receive the ends of outer rails forming a continuation of the track proper,-

inner rails disposed within the frame bounded.

by the fixed walls with their ends terminating at the gaps, inner walls removably secured to the base and through the inner rails to the outer walls and having an upper face providing a wheel-flange groove and guard, the inner walls of groove height extending into the gaps to underlie and support the inner rails adjacent said gaps, and wheel-flange guides disposed opposite the extensions of the outer walls to receive therebetween the ends of the outer rails and support the same adjacent the gaps, the inner ends of said wheel-flange guides being also of height I level with the groove bottom and abutting the .ends of the inner walls.

10. A railway crossing comprising a quadri lateral base with the sides extending beyond their points of intersection, the base bounded by adapted to receive the ends of outer rails forming a continuation of the track proper, inner rails disposed within the frame bounded by the fixed walls with their ends terminating at the gaps, inner walls removably secured to the base and through the inner rails to the outer walls and having an upper face providing a wheel-flange groove and guard, the ends of the inner walls of groove height extending into the gaps to under-' lie and support the ends of the inner rails adjacent said gaps, and wheel-flange guidesdisposed opposite the extensions of the outer walls to receive therebetween the ends of theouter rails and support the same adjacent the gaps, the inner ends of said wheel-flange guides being also of height level with the groove bottom and abutting the ends of the inner walls, the base locally inclined to cant the inner rails to a normal extent corresponding to that of the track ad jacent the crossing.

11. A railway crossing comprising a one-piece base frame with the sides extending beyond their points of intersection, the frame bounded by an upstanding fixed wall substantially coextensive with the base but locally interrupted at the intersection to provide gaps of width equal to that of a rail head plus a wheel-flange groove,

outer rails at the crossing having their ends disposed within the gaps with the rail base bearing against and the rail web tied to the inner face of the upstanding wail, short rails disposed with- 'in the frame with their ends spaced from the outer rail ends a distance equal to a wheel-flange groove, inner walls removably secured to the base and through the inner rails to the outer walls, and wheel-flange guides removably secured to the inside of the outer rails and the frame'with their ends inserted within the gaps in the outer walls and between the ends 'of the intersecting outer and inner rails, said flange guides and in- 65 v the base frame, the upper faces of the outer walls and the contiguous rail heads. lying flush in a JAMES H. ASSELIN. 

